Virtual Apex Racing Group (vApex)
League Rules & Regulations
2020 Fall Season

Revised: September 8, 2019 (See Red Highlighted Text)

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1.    Overview

vApex drivers enjoy great clean competitive but smart racing.  This is not an “arrive and drive” league and all drivers should exhibit good car control, race craft and respect for their fellow competitors and the tracks that the league visits.  As a participant you must abide by the iRacing Code of Conduct and the rules outlined in this document which supersede the Sporting Code where applicable.  

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2.    Participant Eligibility & Requirements

2.1.    License:  Minimum 3.0 Safety Rating C License and above are required to participate in both Road and Oval events.  Drivers below the safety rating may petition to participate but would be required to attend a mandatory practice session for driver evaluation.  

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2.2.    Registration:  Drivers must register at the vApex iRacing League site.  iRacing names must be used for all events.

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2.3.    Etiquette:  Voice chat is for racing purposes and not to berate or complain about drivers or incidents.  Drivers all make mistakes and when an incident happens ALL drivers should automatically assume responsibility until an incident is reviewed after the race.  A driver who makes derogatory remarks to another driver while racing via voice or text chat will be warned and then eliminated from the event if the issue escalates.  Drivers who make post-race derogatory remarks to another driver via voice, text, email or public or private forums will be eliminated from the league.  Incidents may be calmly and respectfully discussed post-race.

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2.4.    Chatting:  You may receive a post-race penalty for unnecessary chatting during green flag racing if you do not heed the warnings from race control.  THERE WILL BE NO CHATTING DURING OVAL QUALIFYING.  Chatting during practice is permitted and limited chatting during yellows are allowed but please keep the channels open for race control.

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2.5.    Car Paint:  No offensive, derogatory, political or obscene paint schemes will be tolerated.  Drivers with such paint schemes will be eliminated from the event.  Each driver should have a paint scheme, so their car does not appear as white with no sponsorship.

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3.    Racing Rules

3.1.    Restarts:  The polesitter must maintain pace car speed until they accelerate to start the race.  The leader may start or restart the race after the pace car leaves the racing surface.  The field should be formed and drivers should maintain a constant speed (no accelerating and de-accelerating to warm tires).  Drivers who lag back to facilitate a run on the field while coming to the green flag may be penalized post-race.

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3.2.    Pit Exit/Entry:  Drivers may enter pit lane off turn four UNLESS specified by the Admin or iRacing.  Drivers exiting pit lane must blend in on the back straight away for ovals and be aware of on coming traffic so as not to impede their progress or cause a wreck.  Drivers violating this will be penalized post-race.

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3.3.    Track Re-Entry:  A driver who goes off track while racing needs to re-enter the track with EXTREME caution so as not to cause contact with other drivers.  Those who do re-enter the track and cause an issue will receive a post-race penalty.

 

3.4.    Black Flags:  Under no circumstance will black flags will be cleared by admins during a race.  All drivers should be aware of iRacing’s flag rules and situations that could result in a black flag.

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3.5.    Yellow Flags:  Full Course Cautions (FCY) on Oval and Road courses will be used in the League.

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3.5.1.     Ovals:  iRacing FCY system will be in full effect.  Restarts will be single file with No Lucky Dog.

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3.5.2.    Road Courses:  We have developed an Application which uses real time data from the iRacing telemetry stream that will provide a running total of incidents occurring on track.  FCY’s are a part of real-life racing and add to the strategy of a race.

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Rather than make an arbitrary system for FCY’s thrown based on time or number of laps, we believe that since all incidents contribute in one way or another to a change in track conditions, this would be an appropriate way to have FCY’s without live marshals.

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A threshold number of total incidents would be reached that would require track maintenance, again, basing this off a real life situation and how Indycar Race Control would react.  Off Tracks in almost all cases bring debris onto the track.  Spins or Car Contacts may deposit debris as well as car parts onto the track.

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Each track will have a threshold number set based on the length of the race, the number of corners at the track, the number of cars in the race, predetermined corners per incident rate and the frequency on the track that iRacing has set for 1x Off Track incidents.  For example, a track like Spa would have a much higher threshold due to its infamous amount of 1x areas along the racing surface.

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Once the threshold number is reached, the Admin will throw a FCY.  All iRacing procedures for the FCY will then be in place and followed.  The track will be swept during the FCY period and restarts will be single file with no Lucky Dog.

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When the race goes back to Green Flag, the incident count resets and begins tabulating incidents.  Each time the threshold is reached, the FCY will be deployed.  Keep in mind, if the racing is clean and the incident threshold is never reached, then the FCY will not be deployed.  If you do not like FCY’s, they can be avoided with clean driving.

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No FCY’s will be thrown in the last 5 laps of the race on a Road Course.  Any evidence of this system being “gamed” will result in an immediate removal from the league.  

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3.5.3  When pacing under a Yellow Flag, all drivers should try and catch the pacing line as quickly and as safely as possible.  Any delay in reaching the pacing line at a less than acceptable pace can be penalized by the Stewards post-race.

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3.6.    Blue Flag:  This is an informational flag only to inform a driver that a faster car is approaching.  The driver receiving the flag and the faster car each need to assess the situation.  The slower car might be battling for position while the faster car is not.  Conversely the faster car might be battling for position while the slower car is not.  In either case, the responsibility lies with the faster car(s) to pass safety while the slower car should maintain their line or make their intentions known well in advance.  Drivers should utilize their F3 relative screen and race with respect so as not to impede another driver’s ability to race for position.

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3.7.    Blocking:  A driver may choose to protect their line but may not alter their racing line based on the actions of the pursing driver to inhibit or prevent passing.  A driver who makes two consecutive lane changes to protect their line and in doing so impedes the pursuing car will be considered blocking and be issued a post-race penalty.  

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3.8.    Incidents:  There are no live stewards during the race, but all racing incidents will be reviewed by the racing stewards’ post-race.  Drivers will receive coaching and when warranted issued post-race penalties.  Drivers will be assessed Stop and Go Penalties through iRacing at different tracks and infraction levels.

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3.9.    Resets:  There will be 1 reset or quick repair.

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3.10.   Weather: Each race week will have a weather "forecast" that will set the minimums and maximums of temperature and other variables. Races will be run with dynamic weather and sky.

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4.    Suggested Racing Etiquette

 
4.1.    Lap Down Cars:  If you are not racing for an immediate position or to be the last car on the lead lap, then you should let the leaders have the racing line and not impede their progress through the field.  If you are the last car on the lead lap and can maintain pace with the leader then you are free to race to maintain that spot.

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4.2.    Racing Line:  All drivers should maintain their racing line in the corners and provide room on entry, middle and exit of a corner so as not to cause an incident.  The lead car has the right to choose a racing line but once the spotter indicates the trailing car is there each driver should provide a raceable line through the entry, middle and exit of the corner.  It is recommended that for the first 75% of the race drivers give each other room to avoid unnecessary contact/incidents.  Racing is not rub’n in this league.

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4.3.    Risk vs Reward:  Drivers in the league are all at various levels of skill.  “Surprising” a driver with a late braking corner entry or dive bomb could result in an incident when the reward doesn’t justify the move.  Likewise driving beyond your skill or with an ill handling car to maintain a position may result in an incident.  Race craft is about situational awareness, communication, respect and patience.  Take the position your car gives and don’t try to force a finish that is not there at the sake of ending another driver’s day early.

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5.    Points System

5.1.    Race Position:  Championship points for each race will be awarded as follows:

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1st – 50 Points         5th – 30 Points          9th – 22 Points      13th - 17 Points      17th - 13 Points      21st -  9 Points
2nd – 40 Points        6th – 28 Points        10th – 20 Points      14th - 16 Points      18th - 12 Points      22nd - 8 Points
3rd – 35 Points         7th – 26 Points        11th - 19 Points       15th - 15 Points      19th - 11 Points      23rd -  7 Points
4th – 32 Points         8th – 24 Points        12th - 18 Points       16th - 14 Points      20th - 10 Points      24th -  6 Points                        

                          All Drivers finishing 25th and below receive 5 points.       

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The Indianapolis and Pocono races will be worth DOUBLE Points

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5.2.    Bonus Points:  Each race bonus points will be awarded to drivers who accomplish the following:  

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Pole Position – 1 Point         Most Laps Led – 1 Point
Leading a Lap – 1 Point        Zero Race Incidents – 5 Points

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5.3.    Penalties:  Point deductions will be assessed as follows pending race review by the stewards:

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Incidents (iRacing X's)                -2 Points for Every 8 Incidents

Improper Voice Chat                 -5 Points
Restart Violation                       -10 Points    
Pit Entry/Exit Violation                -5 Points
Un-Safe Track Entry                 -10 Points (for close call) & DQ for wrecks
Blocking                                      -5 Points

Pacing Delay under FCY            -10 Points
Avoidable/Aggressive Contact    -5 Points    
Intentional Wreck                         DQ

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5.4 Championships - There will be an Overall Season Champion as well as Road Course and Oval Champions.